Sunk on or about 13 February 1940 in the North Sea north of Terschelling, in approx. 55.00N, 05.00E, by a mine in the British barrage Field No. 4 or Field No. 6, laid by the British destroyers HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Intrepid. 41 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, June 1983).

U-54 sent no radio messages after leaving Heligoland with the order to operate of Cape Finisterre and was reported missing on 14 February 1940. Parts of two of its torpedoes were recovered: on 14 March 1940 by the German patrol boat V-1101 in approx. position 54.57N, 06.45E and on 16 April 1940 by the German Q-ship Schiff 37 in the Skagerrak. It is very likely that the boat was mined and sunk in one of two barrages laid by British destroyers on its exit route on 2 and 13/14 January 1940.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-54 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

Media links

There was another U-54 in World War OneThat boat was launched from its shipyard on 22 Feb 1916 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 25 May 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 54 during WWI.